Can-soldering machine.



. G. H. AYARS.

CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 31, 1902.

- N0 MODEL.

mm ess es w: NORRIS pz-rzns co, mofaprncq WASWNGTOM o. c.

PATENTED JUNE 30 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTEI) JUNE 30,1903.

G.H.AYARS. CAN SOLDBRINGMAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MA 31. 1902. N0 MODEL. Y 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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0. H. AYARS. CAN SOLDERING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED'IAY 31. 1902. I 3 MEETS SHEET 3:

K0 MODEL.

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Nb. 7S2,61l.

UNITED STATES Iatented June 30,

PATENT OE Ic-E.

CHARLES H. A'YARS, OF SALEM, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AYABS MACHINECOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-S-OLDERING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,611, dated June30,- 1903.

' Application filed MaYSl, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. AYARS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Salem,

in the county of Salem and State of New Jer sey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Can-Soldering Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in machines for soldering theheads and bottoms on sheet-metal-cans.

Some of the objects of the inventionrare, first, to provide improvedmeans for carrying and revolving the can-bodies during the solderingoperation; second, to provide improved soldering devices; third,toprovide improved solder-feed devices; fourth, means for wiping thesurplus solder from the bodies; fifth, improved devices for ejecting thesoldered bodies, and other objects pointed out in the specification andclaims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectionon the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 ofFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail'in side elevation, on a large scale, showingthe can-carrier, the soldering-iron, the wiper, solder-feed device, andthe ejector. Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of the solder-feeddevice. Fig. 6 is a plan view, on a large scale, of the soldering-iron,wiper, and ejector.

In the drawings, A designates a framework of any suitable construction,which .in the present instance comprises four vertical posts connectedat the top and bottom by suitable plates. A hollow shaft A extendsvertically through the center of the frame and is closed at its lowerend bya coupling-plate a, and a second hollow shaft A extends from saidcoupling-plate to the bottom of the machine.

Secured to the shaft A and revolving therewith is a horizontal plate B,and below said plate and supported by the frame is a stationary ring Bi,provided on its inner side with a rack b. The plate B is provided with aplurality of sleeves c, in the present instance six in number, which arepreferably cast integral therewith, and said sleeves project in avertical directionboth above and Serial No. 109,633. (No model.)

below said plate and form a bearing. A vertical shaft 1) extends througheach of the said sleeve-bearings c, and at the upper end each shaftcarries a head 0', while the lowerend is provided with a pinion O, whichmeshes with the circular rack 17, and as the plate B is revolved,carrying the'shafts b with it, the several pinions O by engaging'the'stationary ring-rack causes the shafts and heads 0' to revolve. Theplate B is also provided with a plurality of vertical sleeves 0 whichalso extend above and below said plate, and these latter sleeves form abearing for a vertical rod 0 each of which carry at their upper ends acurved arm 0 and at their lower ends said rods are provided with apronged arm 0 Each of these vertical rods 0 have position near one ofthe heads 0' and are carried by the revolving plate B. A stationary pinb projects upward from the rack b and engages one of the pronged arms 05on each of the rods 0 as each one approaches during the revolution ofthe plate B, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and by giving the rod 0 apartial rotary movement swings the arm 0 out over the rack b. The otherprong 0 takes against the sleeve-bearing c and serves as a stop toprevent the curved arm 0 from swinging inwardly too far. The revolubleplate B also carries a plurality of pivoted soldering-irons (1, each ofwhich is attached to an arm d, in the. present instance six in number.Each soldering-iron d is pivoted to its arm in order that each iron mayhave a movement in a'horizontal plane independent ot'its carrying-arm,and each solderingiron swings in a horizontal plane just above one ofthe revoluble. heads 0'. A spring (1 serves to keep the arms (:1 andsoldering-irons cl pressed outward, as seen in Fig. 6. Aborizontal arm(i is pivoted at one end to said carrying-arm d and projects laterallyfrom said arm cl toward the edge of the plate B and is then bentdownwardly over and below said plate, and a spiral spring (1 connectsthe lower end of said arm (1 and one of the sleeves c and the springserves to draw the arm (1 toward the head 0. A piece of asand serves asa wiper to wipe the surplus molten solder from the seam of the can asthe same revolves on the heads 0.

It is to be understood that the plateB in the present instance carriessix revolving heads, soldering-irons, wipers, and mechanism foroperating the same, but that this number may be either increased ordecreased, as desired.

An upper circular plate E is also secured to and revolves with the shaftA and is provided with aplurality of bosses j, which have centralopenings, and said bosses have a position in a direct vertical lineabove the center of the heads 0' on the lower plate B, and each of thesebosses serve as bearings for a vertical shaft f,which latter projectsthrough said central openings, and each carries on its lower end a headf which is to press on top of the can. The shafts f project above aswell as below said plate E, and just above each of said bosses eachshaft is provided with a collarf and above said collars each shaft issurrounded with a spiral springf, which is compressed between saidcollar and a circular plate F immediately above. The plate E alsocarries a number of solder-feed devices, by means of which wire-solder fis fed intermittently through a tube extending from the bottom of theplate and directed to a point at the side of the soldering-irons d andadjacent the head 0. This solder-feed mechanism will now be described,reference being had particularly to Figs. 2, 4, and 5.

A small rectangular frame 9 is preferably cast integral with the plateE, and said frame carries two rollers, (see Fig. 2,) and one of saidrollers g is mounted on a shaft which projects through the side of theframe g, and on the outside of said frame this shaft is provided with aratchet-wheel 9 A lever g is also mounted on said shaft between theratchet-wheel g and the frame g, and the innor end of said lever isprovided wit l1 a weight G, while the outer end projects upwardly in aninclined direction and extends beyond the edge of the plate E. Theweighted lever g is provided about midway between its ends with a pawlg, which takes over and engages the ratchet-wheel g and said pawlcarries a downwardly-projecting arm 9 A lever h is pivoted between itsends to the plate E, and its inner end projects beneath the arm g of thepawl, and its outer end takes beneath the collar f for a purpose whichwill be later described. One of the strands of wire-solderf passesdownwardly from a suitable solder-reel above between therollers andthrough an opening in the plate E, and the tube directs the wire-solderto the soldering-iron d. The wire-solder is fed intermittently at givenpoints during the revolution of the machine. In the present instanceeach strand of wiresolder is fed at four different points by mechanismwhich will now be described.

A stationary ring H is secured within the frame of the machine betweenthe plates E and F, and said ring is provided at intervals around itscircumference with cam-plates h, which incline from said ring downwardlyin the path of travel of the outer ends of the levers g (See Figs. 1, 4,and 5.) As the plate E revolves, carrying the levers g with it, theupper outer ends of the latter contact first with the inclined face 71.of the stationary cam-plates, which causes the outer end of the lever gto be depressed, and this depression causes the pawl g to make a sweeping movement over the ratchet-wheel g and partially revolve the same.This partial revolution of the ratchet-wheel imparts a like motion tothe roller g, and thereby the wire-solder, which is clamped between thetwo rollers, is drawn downwardly a short distance. As the end of thelever 9 passes over the face 71 of the cam and contacts with thereversely-inclined face h the weight on the opposite end of said leverraises the forward end thereof and causes the pawl g to return to itsformer position over the ratchet-wheel. This operation of drawing thewire-solder is repeated at each of the four cam-plates, and wire solderis thereby fed downwardly through each solder-tube by four interinittentmovements in each revolution of the plates B E.

In the operation of the machine it sometimes happens that a can-body isnot fed into the machine between the two heads 0 and f as the same movein a horizontal plane around the shaft A, and at such times it isdesirable that the solder should not be fed in order to avoid wastingthe solder. To prevent the solder from feeding, means is providedwhereby the pawl will be raised from engagement with the ratchet-wheel,and thereby avoid feeding. This mechanism will now be described.

The lever h, which is pivoted to the revoluble plate E, as heretoforedescribed, has its inner end projecting beneath the arm 9 of the pawl,and the outer end of said lever takes beneath the collar f (See Fig.When there is no can-body clamped between the heads 0 and f the spring fpresses the collar f down on the outer end of the lever h, therebythrowing the inner end of said lever upward, which strikes the lower endof the arm g and raises it, carrying the pawl g" with it and disengagingand elevating it above the ratchet wheel 9 Now although the weightedlever g will continue to be raised and lowered by the cam as the table Erevolves the wire-solder will not be fed down, because the pawl isdisengaged from the ratchet-wheel. When a can-body is clamped betweenthe heads 0' and f the condition is reversed. The collar f is thenraised and the inner end of the lever h, the arm 9 and pawl g are alllowered and the solder is fed.

It is to be understood that the can-bodies when being soldered areclamped between the heads 0 and f by the action of the spring f and arerevolved and also soldered while so clamping-head f is automaticallyelevated from engagement with the can-body by mechanism which will nowbe described.

The circular plate F is secured to the shaft A and revolves therewith,and said plate is provided with a plurality of horizontally-extendingarms 2', which are pivoted at one end i to said plate F and extendradially to the outer edge of said plate. Near the outer end each arm iis provided With an elongated slot '5 and the extreme outer end isprovided with a roller i A stationary curved track j, having inclinedends j, has position at the outer edge of the plate F and extendsparallel with the edge of said plate for about onefourth of itscircumference, and this track has position in the path of travel of therollers t of the arms t', so that when the plate F revolves the rollers2' will ride up on said trackand elevate the free end of said arms. Thevertical shafts f extend up through the plates Eand F, and each shaftpasses through one of the elongated slots t and a collar t surroundseach shaft f and has position immediately above said slot 1? and restson said.

arm 2'. The extreme upper end of each shaft f is provided with a pinion7' which meshes with a stationary circular rack 7' As the table F isrevolved the pinionsj engage the raclrj and cause the vertical shafts fand heads f to revolve, and when the circuit has been made and therollers i arrive at the inclined ends j of the track 3' the verticalshaft f'and revolving'head f are elevated andthe latter is freed fromengagement with the can, Which may then be discharged. The pinion 7' onthe upper end of the shaft f is also raised, but-remains in engagementwith the rack j and continues to revolve.

Secured to the shaft A at the top of the frame are brackets, whichsupport in a substantially horizontal position a plurality ofwire-solder spools j, from each of which a strand of wire-solder is' feddownward through the solder-feed devices and tubes to thesoldering-irons. In order to reduce the wiresolder to a molten state anddistribute it on the soldering-iron cl to be applied to the canseam, Iprovide a suitable burner 7r,,which has position beneath the iron anddirects its flame against the same and also against the head 0'. Aseries of pipes radiate from the hollow shaft A and extend in ahorizontal direction and connect with a vertical pipe 10 which leads toeach of the burners. A second series of pipes k radiate from the lowerhollow shaft A and also connect with the vertical pipes 70'. Air issupplied through the pipes 70 to the vertical pipes 70 and gas issupplied through the pipes 70 to said pipe 70 the air and gas mixing inthe vertical pipes and the admixture ignited at the burner. Suitablevalves in each of the pipes 70 and 70 control the flow of gas and air.

The mechanism for feeding the cans to and discharging the cans from themachine will now be described. v

Secured to the shaft A below the coupling a is a star-wheel Z, whichrevolves with said.

shaft. A lever l is pivoted to the frame of the machine and has a rollerwhich engages the star-wheel as the latter revolves. This lever Z iskept in contact with the star-wheel by means of a spiral spring Zattached to the free end of said lever. A vertical shaft Z? has positionat the front of the machine and carries a ratchet-wheel Z and apawl-lever Z and the end of said pawl-lever and the end of the lever Zare connected by a bar Z It will thus be seen that asthe star-wheelrevolves it will cause the lever Z, bar 1, and

pawl-lever Z to be, reciprocated, thereby im-f tends upwardly and passesthrough the botj tom of a-chute or canway m,.(see Figs. 2

and 6,) and the upper end of said shaft is provided with asprocket-wheel m, around which a chain carrier m travels. This chaincarrier m or conveyor is provided with latorally-projecting blades mwhich convey the cans to be soldered and feed them onto the heads 0,where the can is soldered, and also conveythe soldered cans away fromthe. machine to any desirable point. soldered traverse along one side ofthe canway, and the soldered cans traverse in the opposite directionalong the other side of the can-v way.

ley at the topof the machine, as will bereadily understood.v

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is v 1. The combination of a plurality ofrotary can-body clamps arranged in pairs and all-of which move around acommon center; aplurality of soldering-irons one being in closev Thecans to be The vertical shafts A and A are revolved by means of thegears n and n and drive-pulthe two clamps composing each pair and all Aof said irons having a movement in a horizontal plane. Y 3. Thecombination of a plurality of rotary can-body clamps all of which aremovable in a direction parallel with the plane in which said clampsrevolve; a soldering-iron in close proximity to each of said clamps andmovable with respect to said clamps; means for applying solder to eachof said irons, and a device for wiping the seam after it has beensoldered.

4. The combination of a plurality of rotary can-body clamps all of whichare movable in a horizontal plane; a soldering-iron in close proximityto each of said clamps, said irons being pivoted so as to accommodatethemselves to contact with the circumference of the can-body to solderthe end seam, and a pivoted wiper coacting with each iron whereby tocontact with and wipe the seam afterit has been soldered.

5. The combination of a plurality of rotary can-body clamps; asoldering-iron pivoted with respect to each of said clamps; a wiperpivoted independently with respect to both the iron and clamp, and meansfor feeding wire-solder to each of said irons.

6. The combination of a plurality of upper and lower rotary can-bodyclamps arranged in pairs and each pair moving in a horizontal planeabout a common center; a plurality of soldering-irons; a plurality ofwipers; and a plurality of canbody ejector-s, said irons, wipers andejectors all moving in a horizontal plane with said clamps.

7. The combination of a plurality of upper and lower rotary can-bodyclamps arranged in pairs; a plurality of independent soldering-irons onefor each pair of said clamps; a plurality of can-body ejectors one foreach pair of clamps, and a separate and distinct solder-feed mechanismfor each pair of said clamps, each of said solder-feed mechanismsfeeding solder only to can-bodies held between a given pair of clamps.

8. The combination of a revolving table; a plurality of rotary can-bodyclamps carried by and movable with said table; asolderingiron having asupport which is pivoted to and movable with said table; a wiper devicealso pivoted to said support, said iron and wiper both having a movementtoward and away from said clamping device, and a can-bodyejector devicealso supported by and movable with said table.

9. The combination of a plurality of upper and lower rotary can-bodyclamps arranged in pairs all of which move in a horizontal plane arounda common center; a plurality of independent soldering-irons, one neareach pair of can-body clamps; a plurality of independent ejectors, onenear each pair of clamps--said irons and ejectors also moving in ahorizontal plane with each pair'of clamping devices, and a stationarydevice for operating all of the ejectors one after the other.

10. The combination of a plurality of pairs of rotary can-body clampseach pair comprising an upper and lower head; an independentsoldering-iron arranged in a plane between the upper and lower clamps ofeach pair; a separate and distinct solder-feed device for each pair ofclamps; and separate mechanism for each pair of clamps whereby duringthe absence of a can-body from between any pair of clamps thesolder-feed device for that particular pair of clamps will stop feedingsolder.

11. The combination of an upper yielding clamping-head;WlI'B-SOldOF-ffid device; and means operated by the movement of saidyielding head whereby to stop the feed of solder during the absence of acan-body.

12. The combination of a revolving table; a lower clamping membercarried on said table; means for revolving said member; an upperclamping member having a verticallyyielding movement independent of thelower member; a solder-feed mechanism,and means coacting with theyielding member whereby to cut off the feed of solder during the absenceof a can-body between said clamping members.

13. The combination of a revolving table; a lower revolving clampingmember carried on said table; an upper clamping member carried on avertical shaft above said lower member, said shaft and upper memberhaving a vertical yielding movement; a solderfeed mechanism and acut-off device coacting between said vertical shaft and the solderfeedmechanism.

14. The combination of a revolving table; a lower revolving clampingmember carried on said table; an upper clamping member carried on avertical shaft above said lower member; solder-feed rollers; apawl-andratchet device for operating said rollers to feed the solder,and a lever coacting between said pawl-and-ratchet device and saidvertical shaft to disengage the pawl from said ratchet.

15. The combination of a revolving table; can-body-clamping devicescarried by and movable with said table; vertically-movable shafts, oneabove each of said clamping devices, and each shaft carrying a head onits lower end and a collar near its upper end; a revoluble table nearthe upper ends of said vertical shafts and below said collars; aplurality of horizontal arms pivoted at their inner ends to said tableand their outer ends each carrying a roller, and a trackway over whichsaid rollers run whereby to elevate said horizontal arms and verticalshafts.

16. The combination of a plurality of rotary can-body clamps arrangedin' pairs; a separate and independent soldering-iron near each pair ofclamps; and a separate and independent solder-feed mechanism near eachpair of said clamps, all of said pairs of clamps, soldering-irons andsolder-feed mechanisms movable in the same plane and around a commoncenter.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES H. AYARS.

YVitnesses:

LOREN P. PLEMMER, WALTER P. BALLINGER.

